Scottish first minister
Alex Salmond has called the UK government ‘incompetent Lord Snooties’ in his speech at the Scottish National Party conference and said it was time for Scotland to ‘seize a different future’ in the upcoming independence referendum.

During his appearance at the event in Perth, Mr Salmond criticised politicians at Westminster, who he said were ‘unwilling to do what is best for Scotland’.

The first minister laid into the coalition government and even made a reference to their recent political woes.

He said: ‘Why on earth do we allow this incompetent bunch of Lord Snooties to be in positions of authority over our country?

‘Westminster would put this first class nation in the second class carriages.’

Former Conservative chief whip Andrew Mitchell resigned from his position on Friday after he was accused of calling police officers ‘plebs’ during a confrontation outside of Downing Street and just hours earlier chancellor George Osborne was allegedly forced to pay £160 after he was caught in a first class carriage with a standard ticket.

Scottish voters are due to go to the polls to vote in the referendum in 2014 and Mr Salmond added: ‘Now is the time for Scotland to choose, to seize a different future.

‘No more second best for Scotland. It is time, it is past time, for a fresh start for our nation.’